The Incorporated Trustees of HEDA Resource Centre has sued the federal government, multinational oil companies and government agencies over the legality of the oil asset divestment deal by Eni Societa Per Azioni, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited and Oando PLC.

HEDA, in the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/850/25 and filed by Kunle Adegoke (SAN) before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, asked the court to determine whether the transaction complied with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and other key regulatory frameworks.

The defendants in the suit include the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

HEDA alleged the transaction contravened several statutory provisions, including the Guidelines for Obtaining Minister’s Consent to Assignment of Interest in Oil and Gas Assets (2021), the Upstream Petroleum Environmental Regulations (2022), the Gas Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions Regulations (2023) and the Upstream Petroleum Environmental Remediation Regulations (2024). 

The civil organisation asked the court to declare the transaction unlawful and invalid, alleging proper legal and environmental procedures were jettisoned in the transfer.

It also sought a perpetual injunction restraining the relevant government agencies from recognising or approving the deal and an order nullifying any ministerial consent already granted.

“This suit is about more than just a corporate deal; it’s about the integrity of our regulatory systems and the future of environmental governance in Nigeria,” HEDA’s chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, said in a statement over the weekend.

He added, “We cannot continue to allow powerful interests to bypass laws meant to protect citizens, the environment, the economy, and the integrity of the country.”

Mr Suraj noted the case tests the willingness of the Nigerian government to enforce the PIA and uphold accountability in the oil and gas industry, stressing the suit was part of the organisation’s commitment to ensuring transparency, environmental justice and regulatory compliance in Nigeria’s extractive sector.

According to the organisation, the legal step is meant to set a precedent that oil licence transfers and divestments must be conducted in compliance with Nigerian law, especially given the importance of environmental sustainability and responsible governance.